Ash tray



Jan. 20, 1942. a FRIED AN 2,270,781

ASH TRAY Filed Feb. 6, 1941 INV ENTOR zeyfieedmaw ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 20, 1942 ASH TRAY Sidney Friedman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application February 6, 1941, Serial No. 377,585

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an ash tray.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of an ash tray characterized by a container having a relatively thick top wall provided with a large opening with a plurality of smaller openings arranged around the large opening with a shut off slide beneath the top wall and normally closing the bottom ends of the smaller openings for permitting a cigarette to be snuffed out by being engaged thereagainst.

Still further it is proposed to provide the slide with a resilient means characterized by a leaf spring for urging the slide into a position in which the bottom ends of the smaller openings will be closed.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a means for permitting the slide to be moved against the action of the resilient means for aligning the openings in the slidewith the smaller openings of the top wall to permit a snuffed out cigarette to drop through the smaller openings into the container.

Still further it is proposed to provide the slide with a large opening aligned with the large opening in the top wall of the container and of a size to permit this top opening to remain open regardless of the position of the slide so that ashes from cigarettes may be dropped therethrough into the container.

A modification of this invention proposes the provision of a means controlled by said slide for forcing snuffed out cigarettes inserted into the smaller openings downwards during that period when the shut off slide is being opened so as to cause these cigarettes to pass through the smaller openings.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an ash tray constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an ash tray constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I-'I of Fig. 6.

The ash tray, according to this invention includes a container I0 having a relatively thick wall II and an open bottom I2. The relatively thick wall II is provided with a large centrally located opening I3 having a plurality of smaller openings I4 spaced around the larger opening I3. The smaller openings I4 are of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of a conventionally The slide I5 is further provided with a plu-- rality of smaller openings l8 having the same spaced alignment as the small openings I4 formed in a top wall II. These small openings I8 in the slide I5 are normally out of alignment with relation to the small openings I4 formed in the top wall II. However, it is possible by a means to be hereinafter described to move the slide I5 to align the openings I8 with the openings I4. In thenormally disaligned position of the openings I4 and I8 the lit end of the cigarette is adapted to be passed into one of the openings I4 to be pressed against the top face of the slide I 5 for the purposes of snufiing the cigarette to extinguish the same. I

A means is provided for urging the slide I5 into a position in which the openings I4 and I8 will be. disaligned. This means comprises a leaf spring I9 securely mounted on one wall of the container by means of rivets 2B. These rivets 20 are located centrally of th length of the leaf spring I9, and the leaf spring has its ends bent away from the wall of the container upon which it is mounted. These ends bear against downwardly extending flange I5 formed upon one end of the slide I5. Thus, the slide I5 is urged into a position in which the openings I4 and I8 are disaligned.

A means is also provided for facilitating the moving of the slide I5 to align the openings I4 and I8. To accomplish this the slide I5 is formed with a second downwardly extending flange I5 formed on the side thereof opposed to the side provided with the flange I5 A laterally extending stem 2| has one of its ends attached to the flange I5 intermediate of its ends. The free end of the stem 2| is projected through an opening formed in the side wall of the container Ill. The free end of the stem 2| is provided with an enlarged knob 22 against which ones fingers are adapted to be engaged for pressing the stem 2| inwards to move the slide I5 against the holding action of the spring I9 to align the openings I4 and I8. In this aligned position a snuffed out cigarette may be pressed through the openings I4 and I8 into the interior of the container III.

The open bottom I2 of the container I is closed by means of a bottom wall 23 provided with an upwardly extending square flange 24 transforming the bottom wall 23 into a cup shaped receptacle for receiving and collecting cigarette ashes and butts which are passed through the openings I3 and I4. When the ash receiver becomes full it is merely necessary to remove the bottom wall 23 and empty the cup shaped receptacle.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

The ash tray is adapted to rest upon a table or other support element in the position shown in Fig. 1. A smoker using the tray knocks his ashes from his cigarette so that the ashes will pass through the opening I3 into the container I0 and dropintov the receptacle to be collected thereby. If the cigarette has been completely smoked and it is desired to snufi the remaining butt out before placing it in the container it is merely necessary to press the lit end of the butt against the top face of the slide I after having been passed into one of the smaller openings I4. After a suflicient time has been permitted to elapse so that the butt is completely extinguished, the slide I5 is moved by pressing againstthe knob 22 to move the slide to align the openings IS with the openings I4. In this aligned position the cigarette butt which was extended into one of the into the small openings I4 downwards during A formed in the thick top wall I I adjacent one side of the opening I4. The lug I?) will normally move with the slide I5 as the slide is moved by the inward compression of the stem 2 I or the expansion of the spring I8. An auxiliary recess 3| extends outwards from the recess 30. A pin 32 is normally disposed within the auxiliary recess 3| and has its end passed through a slot 33 formed in the lug I5 and through a vertically arranged slot 34 formed in the wall II and connecting with an opening I4. An expansion spring 35 is coaxially mounted upon the pin 32. The spring 35 operates between the adjacent faces of the lug I5 and the head of the pin 32 for urging the pin into a position in which its head will bear against the back wall of the auxiliary recess 3|.

The back wall of the auxiliary recess is provided with a projecting cam surface 36 upon which the head of the pin 32 is adapted to ride for urging the pin into an extending position against the action of the spring 35. The slot 33 formed in the lug I5 is of a particular construction so as to have a horizontal portion 33 and a downwardly inclined portion 33 continuing from the end of the horizontal portion 33*. With this construction the pin 32 will not move downwards immediately when the slide I5 is moved and will permit the slide to reach a position in which the opening I8 is partially aligned with opening I4 before the pin 32 moves downwards.

When the pin 32 reaches an aligned position with the inclined portion 33 of the slide 33 the pin will be urged downwards to ride upon the cam surface 33 to cause the pointed end thereof to be extended and again retracted as the head of the pin passes over the cam surface. With this construction if the cigarette butt should be partially bent as it is pressed against the top slide I5 the extension and retraction of the pin 32 intothe opening I4 will cause the butt to be drawn through the opening to insure its passage into the container II) in the aligned position of the openings I4 and I8.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously described and like reference numerals are used for identifying like parts in each of the several views.

It is to be understood that this ash tray may be of any desired shape, size and material and ornamented in any manner.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and'the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An ash tray comprising a container having a relatively thick top wall provided with a large opening and a plurality of smaller openings extending through from the top to the bottom, a shut-off slidebeneath said top wall for closing the bottom ends of said smaller openings, said slide having openings normally out of alignment with the smaller openings in said top wall and being movable to a position inwhich its openings are aligned with the smaller openings in said top wall leaving the smaller openings in said top wall unrestricted, means for facilitating moving said slide from the exterior of said container, and a means for forcing cigarettes inserted into said smaller openings in said top wall downwards during that period of time when theshut-off slide is moved into a position to align the openings of said slide with the smaller openings of said top wall.

2. In an ash tray, comprising a container having a relativelythick top wall provided with an opening slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette, a shut-01f slide beneath said top wall for closing the open bottom of said opening providing a surface against which a lit cigarette butt may be snuffed, said slide being formed with an opening normally out of alignment with said opening in said wall and movable to align its opening with said opening in said wall permitting a snuffed butt to drop therethrough, means for moving said slide from the exterior of said container, said top wall being formed with a recess adjacent said opening and a vertical slot connecting said recess and opening, a pin having its headed end disposed within said recess and its pointed end extended through said slot and partially into said opening, means for moving said pin vertically downwards as said slide is moved to align said openings, and means for extending and again retracting the pointed end of said pin simultaneous with said downward movement to engage and disengage said cigarette butt to force said butt through said openings.

3. In an ash tray, comprising a container having a relatively thick top wall provided with an opening slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette, a shut-01f slide beneath said top wall for closing the open bottom of said opening providing a surface against which a lit cigarette butt may be snuffed, said slide being formed with an opening normally out of alignment with said opening in said wall and movable to align its opening with said opening in said wall permitting a snufied butt to drop therethrough, means for moving said slide from the exterior of said container, said top wall being formed with a recess adjacent said opening and a vertical slot connecting said recess and opening, a pin having its headed end disposed within said recess and its pointed end extended through said slot and partially into said opening, means for moving said pin vertically downwards as said slide is moved to align said openings, and means for extending and again retracting the pointed'end of said pin simultaneous with said downward movement to engage and disengage said cigarette butt to force said butt through said openings, said second-mentioned means, comprising an upwardly extending lug formed on said slide to move therewith and arranged at right angles to said pin, said lug being formed with an upwardly inclined slot through which an intermediate portion of said pin extends for moving said pin downwards as said slide and lug are moved relative to said pin.

4. In an ash tray, comprising a container having a relatively thick top wall provided with an opening slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette, a shut-off slide beneath said top wall for closing the open bottom of said opening providing a surface against which a lit cigarette butt may be snuifed, said slide being formed with an opening normally out of alignment with said opening in said wall and movable to align its opening with said opening in said wall permitting a snuiied butt to drop therethrough, means for moving said slide from the exterior of said container, said top wall being formed with a recess adjacent said opening and a vertical slot connecting said recess and opening, a pin having its headed end disposed within said recess and its pointed end extended through said slot and partially into said opening, means for moving said pin vertically downwards as said slid is moved to align said openings, and means for extending and again retracting the pointed end of said pin simultaneous with said downward movement to engage and disengage said cigarette butt to force said butt through said openings, said lattermentioned means, comprising a cam surface formed on the rear wall ofsaid recess, and means for continually urging the headed end of said pin into continual engagement with said cam surface.

5. In an ash tray, comprising a container having a relatively thick top wall provided with an opening slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette, a shut-off slide beneath said top wall for closing the open bottom of said opening providing a surface against which a lit cigarette butt may be snuffed, said slide being formed with an opening normally out of alignment with said opening in said wall and movable to align its opening with said opening in said wall permitting a snuifed butt to drop therethrough, means for moving said slide from the exterior of said container, said top wall being formed with a recess adjacent said opening and a vertical slot connecting said recess and opening, a pin having its headed end disposed within said recess and its pointed end extended through said slot and partially into said opening, means for moving said pin vertically downwards as said slide is moved to align said openings, and means for extending and again retracting the pointed end of said pin simultaneous with said downward movement to engage and disengage said cigarette butt to force said butt through said openings, said lattermentioned means, comprising a cam surface formed on the rear wall of said recess, and means for continually urging the headed end of said pin into continual engagement with said cam surface, comprising a spring coaxially mounted on said pin and operating between the head of said pin and an adjacent portion of said second-mentioned means.

SIDNEY FRIEDMAN. 

